How IoT Will Transform Guest Experience
Millennials are the rising generation, and in just a few years, they’ll account for 50% of the people traveling. What may have worked for the hospitality industry in the past, simply doesn’t work for this new generation.
It’s no secret that Millennials love technology, and from their smart homes to their smart watches, everything they do is connected to the internet - they are used to living in a digital age. If they show up at a hotel with dated features, the possibility of them leaving a great review and visiting again are slim to none.
The hospitality industry has to keep up with the rise of technology, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have to do a complete overhaul of the systems that they are already using and running.
Millennials aren’t bulldozing down every house and building modern homes on top of the ashes, they are taking what’s already available and connecting to it in a new way.
By 2022, the typical home could contain over 500 smart home devices, which means that guests are going to expect the same amount of ease and comfort in the hotels that they are looking at staying in.
How IoT Helps
IoT (Internet of Things) can help hotels create an environment that is conducive to what guests are used to, which will generate more profit and better guest experience.
This isn’t just talk of the future; IoT has already been implemented in many large hotel chains around the world. Hilton and Starwood hotels have already implemented IoT to help with keyless entry. Through their apps, guests can check in, unlock their doors, and get to the room without having to stop at the front desk.
While some may want the face-to-face interaction that comes with a traditional check in experience, Millennials and many others like the ease of getting into their rooms quickly and on their own time.
IoT also has the ability to connect the guest to their room before they are even in it. For example, everyone has different preferences when it comes to the amount of light in each room. IoT devices can track the average lights used amongst guests to save energy and make the hotel more efficient.
IoT devices can also be used to make hotel life easier and more pleasant.
Some smart devices can detect motion and turn on gentle lights, so no one has to fumble through the dark in the middle of the night. Others, aroma alarm clocks for example, wake guests up with their favorite smell.
Some guests want the shades open, others want them closed. Loyal guests may order the same room service meal each time they get to the hotel, and it could be waiting for them in their room when they check in.
IoT can track these details, giving hotels the information necessary to personalize guests’ experience, making them feel pampered and at home.
The First Steps to Implementation
Overhauling existing systems and creating a smart hotel could be costly and time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be done all at once. Smart devices, like GreenMe’s smart cube, are transforming guest experience without the high price tag that comes with completely changing how the hotel works.
The small cube accurately tracks 10 parameters relevant to guests’ comfort and health. Things like noise levels, lighting, air quality, humidity, and temperature are tracked and analyzed. These analytics are then presented to the hotel chain to show what can be improved upon to make guest experience better.
It’s also a great way to catch potential problems, such as a sectioned off hallway that takes more energy to cool and to heat. This data can be used to provide a more personal experience for guests, but also save the hotel money on things like energy costs.
Creating the optimal guest experience is what every hospitality business strives for, and IoT is quickly becoming the way to do so.
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